Coordinated efforts needed to fight Covid-19: FM Qureshi

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Androulla Kaminara discuss anti-coronavirus measures

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday stressed the need for employing coordinated efforts at a global scale to tackle the implications of the novel coronavirus.

“Covid-19 has impacted the whole world and to tackle its implications coordinated efforts should be employed at a global level,” he said during a meeting with European Union ambassador to Pakistan Androulla Kaminara.

The FM expressed deep sorrow on the loss of lives caused by the virus in the EU and extended solidarity on behalf of the people and the country.

On anti-virus measures, Qureshi said despite limited resources, the government has allocated Rs8 billion for the revival of the economy. He lauded the memorandum of understandings signed between the government and the EU, saying that the development in bilateral relations is a good fortune.

Recently, the EU unveiled the 150€ million worth of Covid-19 package for Pakistan to bolster its short- and medium-term responses to the unabated health crisis as well as to help the country tackle the devastating social and economic impact arising from the pandemic.

“The EU assistance in the wake of coronavirus pandemic is highly laudable,” he said.

The ambassador lauded the government’s anti-virus steps and informed of the assistance being provided by the EU for the country.

“Just had another very positive, constructive meeting with FM Qureshi. EU-PK partnership getting stronger and stronger through dialogue and exchange of views. Thank you Qureshi for willingness to engage further,” she said in a tweet.

Qureshi also said the EU should take notice of the ongoing curfew and gross human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K). He urged the international community including the EU to put pressure on India for halting the human rights violations in IOJ&K, illegal restrictions, lifting the curfew, and immediate release of Kashmiri leaders in Indian jails.